Grant to Enhance Healthcare Training in Grand Forks
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Commerce, led by Secretary Gina Raimondo, has announced a significant financial boost for the University of North Dakota. A $1.3 million grant is set to support the development of the healthcare workforce in Grand Forks.
The grant will be utilized to acquire a van and necessary equipment, facilitating the expansion of the university’s medical training program. An additional $328,500 in local funds will complement this Economic Development Administration (EDA) investment.
Secretary Raimondo expressed, “The Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America Agenda is committed to providing workers with the skills they need for jobs in America’s most in-demand industries. This project will enhance the capacity of professionals and students in Grand Forks to respond to and provide emergency medical services especially during natural disasters.”
Echoing the importance of the initiative, Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Cristina Killingsworth stated, “EDA plays an important role in supporting locally driven disaster recovery and resiliency plans. This EDA investment will help bolster workforce training in essential healthcare jobs and boost regional economic resilience.”
Senator Kevin Cramer added, “The University of North Dakota is essential to training medical professionals in the region. At a time of limited supply and growing demand for more technicians, nurses, and physicians, these funds will support workforce development efforts in the state, both now and in the future. I’m glad this project secured assistance to enhance training opportunities for the essential jobs in medical care.”
This initiative is part of the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2023, which allocated $483 million in Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) Program funds for disaster relief and recovery. These funds are directed toward areas that declared a major disaster under the Robert T. Stafford Act, covering incidents like Hurricanes Ian and Fiona, wildfires, and flooding during 2021 and 2022. For further details, visit the EDA’s Disaster Supplemental webpage.
